Proteogenomics of Non-smoking Lung Cancer in East Asia Delineates Molecular Signatures of Pathogenesis and Progression.

Lung cancer in East Asia is characterized by a high percentage of never-smokers, early onset and predominant EGFR mutations. To illuminate the molecular phenotype of this demographically distinct disease, we performed a deep comprehensive proteogenomic study on a prospectively collected cohort in Taiwan, representing early stage, predominantly female, non-smoking lung adenocarcinoma. Integrated genomic, proteomic, and phosphoproteomic analysis delineated the demographically distinct molecular attributes and hallmarks of tumor progression. Mutational signature analysis revealed age- and gender-related mutagenesis mechanisms, characterized by high prevalence of APOBEC mutational signature in younger females and over-representation of environmental carcinogen-like mutational signatures in older females. A proteomics-informed classification distinguished the clinical characteristics of early stage patients with EGFR mutations. Furthermore, integrated protein network analysis revealed the cellular remodeling underpinning clinical trajectories and nominated candidate biomarkers for patient stratification and therapeutic intervention. This multi-omic molecular architecture may help develop strategies for management of early stage never-smoker lung adenocarcinoma.

3D genomic mapping reveals multifocality of human pancreatic precancers.

Pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasias (PanINs) are the most common precursors of pancreatic cancer, but their small size and inaccessibility in humans make them challenging to study1. Critically, the number, dimensions and connectivity of human PanINs remain largely unknown, precluding important insights into early cancer development. Here, we provide a microanatomical survey of human PanINs by analysing 46 large samples of grossly normal human pancreas with a machine-learning pipeline for quantitative 3D histological reconstruction at single-cell resolution. To elucidate genetic relationships between and within PanINs, we developed a workflow in which 3D modelling guides multi-region microdissection and targeted and whole-exome sequencing. From these samples, we calculated a mean burden of 13 PanINs per cm3 and extrapolated that the normal intact adult pancreas harbours hundreds of PanINs, almost all with oncogenic KRAS hotspot mutations. We found that most PanINs originate as independent clones with distinct somatic mutation profiles. Some spatially continuous PanINs were found to contain multiple KRAS mutations; computational and in situ analyses demonstrated that different KRAS mutations localize to distinct cell subpopulations within these neoplasms, indicating their polyclonal origins. The extensive multifocality and genetic heterogeneity of PanINs raises important questions about mechanisms that drive precancer initiation and confer differential progression risk in the human pancreas. This detailed 3D genomic mapping of molecular alterations in human PanINs provides an empirical foundation for early detection and rational interception of pancreatic cancer.

Relaxed targeting rules help PIWI proteins silence transposons.

In eukaryotes, small RNA guides, such as small interfering RNAs and microRNAs, direct AGO-clade Argonaute proteins to regulate gene expression and defend the genome against external threats. Only animals make a second clade of Argonaute proteins: PIWI proteins. PIWI proteins use PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) to repress complementary transposon transcripts1,2. In theory, transposons could evade silencing through target site mutations that reduce piRNA complementarity. Here we report that, unlike AGO proteins, PIWI proteins efficiently cleave transcripts that are only partially paired to their piRNA guides. Examination of target binding and cleavage by mouse and sponge PIWI proteins revealed that PIWI slicing tolerates mismatches to any target nucleotide, including those flanking the scissile phosphate. Even canonical seed pairing is dispensable for PIWI binding or cleavage, unlike plant and animal AGOs, which require uninterrupted target pairing from the seed to the nucleotides past the scissile bond3,4. PIWI proteins are therefore better equipped than AGO proteins to target newly acquired or rapidly diverging endogenous transposons without recourse to new small RNA guides. Conversely, the minimum requirements for PIWI slicing are sufficient to avoid inadvertent silencing of host RNAs. Our results demonstrate the biological advantage of PIWI over AGO proteins in defending the genome against transposons and suggest an explanation for why the piRNA pathway was retained in animal evolution.

To Degrade a MicroRNA, Destroy Its Argonaute Protein.

Han et al. (2020) and Shi et al. (2020) report that the E3 ubiquitin ligase ZSWIM8 senses when an RNA and an Argonaute protein-bound microRNA are extensively base paired and directs Argonaute destruction by the proteasome. The result is degradation of the microRNA.

Quantification Quality Control Emerges as a Crucial Factor to Enhance Single-Cell Proteomics Data Analysis.

Mass spectrometry (MS)-based single-cell proteomics (SCP) provides us the opportunity to unbiasedly explore biological variability within cells without the limitation of antibody availability. This field is rapidly developed with the main focuses on instrument advancement, sample preparation refinement, and signal boosting methods; however, the optimal data processing and analysis are rarely investigated which holds an arduous challenge because of the high proportion of missing values and batch effect. Here, we introduced a quantification quality control to intensify the identification of differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) by considering both within and across SCP data. Combining quantification quality control with isobaric matching between runs (IMBR) and PSM-level normalization, an additional 12% and 19% of proteins and peptides, with more than 90% of proteins/peptides containing valid values, were quantified. Clearly, quantification quality control was able to reduce quantification variations and q-values with the more apparent cell type separations. In addition, we found that PSM-level normalization performed similar to other protein-level normalizations but kept the original data profiles without the additional requirement of data manipulation. In proof of concept of our refined pipeline, six uniquely identified DEPs exhibiting varied fold-changes and playing critical roles for melanoma and monocyte functionalities were selected for validation using immunoblotting. Five out of six validated DEPs showed an identical trend with the SCP dataset, emphasizing the feasibility of combining the IMBR, cell quality control, and PSM-level normalization in SCP analysis, which is beneficial for future SCP studies.

CODA: quantitative 3D reconstruction of large tissues at cellular resolution.

A central challenge in biology is obtaining high-content, high-resolution information while analyzing tissue samples at volumes relevant to disease progression. We address this here with CODA, a method to reconstruct exceptionally large (up to multicentimeter cubed) tissues at subcellular resolution using serially sectioned hematoxylin and eosin-stained tissue sections. Here we demonstrate CODA's ability to reconstruct three-dimensional (3D) distinct microanatomical structures in pancreas, skin, lung and liver tissues. CODA allows creation of readily quantifiable tissue volumes amenable to biological research. As a testbed, we assess the microanatomy of the human pancreas during tumorigenesis within the branching pancreatic ductal system, labeling ten distinct structures to examine heterogeneity and structural transformation during neoplastic progression. We show that pancreatic precancerous lesions develop into distinct 3D morphological phenotypes and that pancreatic cancer tends to spread far from the bulk tumor along collagen fibers that are highly aligned to the 3D curves of ductal, lobular, vascular and neural structures. Thus, CODA establishes a means to transform broadly the structural study of human diseases through exploration of exhaustively labeled 3D microarchitecture.

Arabidopsis ERdj3B coordinates with ERECTA-family receptor kinases to regulate ovule development and the heat stress response.

The endoplasmic reticulum-localized DnaJ family 3B (ERdj3B), is a component of the stromal cell-derived factor 2 (SDF2)-ERdj3B-binding immunoglobulin protein (BiP) chaperone complex, which functions in protein folding, translocation, and quality control. We found that ERdj3B mutations affected integument development in the Ler ecotype but not in the Col-0 ecotype of Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). Map-based cloning identified the ERECTA (ER) gene as a natural modifier of ERdj3B. The double mutation of ERdj3B and ER caused a major defect in the inner integument under heat stress. Additional mutation of the ER paralog ERECTA-LIKE 1 (ERL1) or ERL2 to the erdj3b er double mutant exacerbated the defective integument phenotype. The double mutation of ER and SDF2, the other component of the SDF2-ERdj3B-BiP complex, resulted in similar defects in the inner integument. Furthermore, both the protein abundance and plasma membrane partitioning of ER, ERL1, and ERL2 were markedly reduced in erdj3b plants, indicating that the SDF2-ERdj3B-BiP chaperone complex might control the translocation of ERECTA-family proteins from the endoplasmic reticulum to the plasma membrane. Our results suggest that the SDF2-ERdj3B-BiP complex functions in ovule development and the heat stress response in coordination with ERECTA-family receptor kinases.

EGFR-T790M Mutation-Derived Interactome Rerouted EGFR Translocation Contributing to Gefitinib Resistance in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

Secondary mutation, T790M, conferring tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) resistance beyond oncogenic epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations presents a challenging unmet need. Although TKI-resistant mechanisms are intensively investigated, the underlying responses of cancer cells adapting drug perturbation are largely unknown. To illuminate the molecular basis linking acquired mutation to TKI resistance, affinity purification coupled mass spectrometry was adopted to dissect EGFR interactome in TKI-sensitive and TKI-resistant non-small cell lung cancer cells. The analysis revealed TKI-resistant EGFR-mutant interactome allocated in diverse subcellular distribution and enriched in endocytic trafficking, in which gefitinib intervention activated autophagy-mediated EGFR degradation and thus autophagy inhibition elevated gefitinib susceptibility. Alternatively, gefitinib prompted TKI-sensitive EGFR translocating toward cell periphery through Rab7 ubiquitination which may favor efficacy to TKIs suppression. This study revealed that T790M mutation rewired EGFR interactome that guided EGFR to autophagy-mediated degradation to escape treatment, suggesting that combination therapy with TKI and autophagy inhibitor may overcome acquired resistance in non-small cell lung cancer.

LncRNA HOTAIRM1 functions in DNA double-strand break repair via its association with DNA repair and mRNA surveillance factors.

The eukaryotic exon junction complex component Y14 participates in double-strand break (DSB) repair via its RNA-dependent interaction with the non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ) complex. Using immunoprecipitation-RNA-seq, we identified a set of Y14-associated long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs). The lncRNA HOTAIRM1 serves as a strong candidate that mediates the interaction between Y14 and the NHEJ complex. HOTAIRM1 localized to near ultraviolet laser-induced DNA damage sites. Depletion of HOTAIRM1 delayed the recruitment of DNA damage response and repair factors to DNA lesions and compromised the efficiency of NHEJ-mediated DSB repair. Identification of the HOTAIRM1 interactome revealed a large set of RNA processing factors including mRNA surveillance factors. The surveillance factors Upf1 and SMG6 localized to DNA damage sites in a HOTAIRM1-dependent manner. Depletion of Upf1 or SMG6 increased the level of DSB-induced non-coding transcripts at damaged sites, indicating a pivotal role for Upf1/SMG6-mediated RNA degradation in DNA repair. We conclude that HOTAIRM1 serves as an assembly scaffold for both DNA repair and mRNA surveillance factors that act in concert to repair DSBs.

Predicting Atrophy of the Cochlear Stria Vascularis from the Shape of the Threshold Audiogram.

Several lines of evidence have suggested that steeply sloping audiometric losses are caused by hair cell degeneration, while flat audiometric losses are caused by strial atrophy, but this concept has never been rigorously tested in human specimens. Here, we systematically compare audiograms and cochlear histopathology in 160 human cases from the archival collection of celloidin-embedded temporal bones at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear. The dataset included 106 cases from a prior study of normal-aging ears, and an additional 54 cases selected by combing the database for flat audiograms. Audiogram shapes were classified algorithmically into five groups according to the relation between flatness (i.e., SD of hearing levels across all frequencies) and low-frequency pure-tone average (i.e., mean at 0.25, 0.5, and 1.0 kHz). Outer and inner hair cell losses, neural degeneration, and strial atrophy were all quantified as a function of cochlear location in each case. Results showed that strial atrophy was worse in the apical than the basal half of the cochlea and was worse in females than in males. The degree of strial atrophy was uncorrelated with audiogram flatness. Apical atrophy was correlated with low-frequency thresholds and basal atrophy with high-frequency thresholds, and the former correlation was higher. However, a multivariable regression with all histopathological measures as predictors and audiometric thresholds as the outcome showed that strial atrophy was a significant predictor of threshold shift only in the low-frequency region, and, even there, the contribution of outer hair cell damage was larger.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Cochlear pathology can only be assessed postmortem; thus, human cochlear histopathology is critical to our understanding of the mechanisms of hearing loss. Dogma holds that relative damage to sensory cells, which transduce mechanical vibration into electrical signals, versus the stria vascularis, the cellular battery that powers transduction, can be inferred by the shape of the audiogram, that is, down-sloping (hair cell damage) versus flat (strial atrophy). Here we quantified hair cell and strial atrophy in 160 human specimens to show that it is the degree of low-frequency hearing loss, rather than the audiogram slope, that predicts strial atrophy. Results are critical to the design of clinical trials for hearing-loss therapeutics, as current drugs target only hair cell, not strial, regeneration.

Adaptation mechanism of three Impatiens species to different habitats based on stem morphology, lignin and MYB4 gene.

BACKGROUND: Impatiens is an important genus with rich species of garden plants, and its distribution is extremely extensive, which is reflected in its diverse ecological environment. However, the specific mechanisms of Impatiens' adaptation to various environments and the mechanism related to lignin remain unclear. RESULTS: Three representative Impatiens species,Impatiens chlorosepala (wet, low degree of lignification), Impatiens uliginosa (aquatic, moderate degree of lignification) and Impatiens rubrostriata (terrestrial, high degree of lignification), were selected and analyzed for their anatomical structures, lignin content and composition, and lignin-related gene expression. There are significant differences in anatomical parameters among the stems of three Impatiens species, and the anatomical structure is consistent with the determination results of lignin content. Furthermore, the thickness of the xylem and cell walls, as well as the ratio of cell wall thickness to stem diameter have a strong correlation with lignin content. The anatomical structure and degree of lignification in Impatiens can be attributed to the plant's growth environment, morphology, and growth rate. Our analysis of lignin-related genes revealed a negative correlation between the MYB4 gene and lignin content. The MYB4 gene may control the lignin synthesis in Impatiens by controlling the structural genes involved in the lignin synthesis pathway, such as HCT, C3H, and COMT. Nonetheless, the regulation pathway differs between species of Impatiens. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated consistency between the stem anatomy of Impatiens and the results obtained from lignin content and composition analyses. It is speculated that MYB4 negatively regulates the lignin synthesis in the stems of three Impatiens species by regulating the expression of structural genes, and its regulation mechanism appears to vary across different Impatiens species. This study analyses the variations among different Impatiens plants in diverse habitats, and can guide further molecular investigations of lignin biosynthesis in Impatiens.

Benchmarking differential expression, imputation and quantification methods for proteomics data.

Data analysis is a critical part of quantitative proteomics studies in interpreting biological questions. Numerous computational tools for protein quantification, imputation and differential expression (DE) analysis were generated in the past decade and the search for optimal tools is still going on. Moreover, due to the rapid development of RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) technology, a vast number of DE analysis methods were created for that purpose. The applicability of these newly developed RNA-seq-oriented tools to proteomics data remains in doubt. In order to benchmark these analysis methods, a proteomics dataset consisting of proteins derived from humans, yeast and drosophila, in defined ratios, was generated in this study. Based on this dataset, DE analysis tools, including microarray- and RNA-seq-based ones, imputation algorithms and protein quantification methods were compared and benchmarked. Furthermore, applying these approaches to two public datasets showed that RNA-seq-based DE tools achieved higher accuracy (ACC) in identifying DEPs. This study provides useful guidelines for analyzing quantitative proteomics datasets. All the methods used in this study were integrated into the Perseus software, version 2.0.3.0, which is available at https://www.maxquant.org/perseus.

Telomere-to-telomere Schizosaccharomyces japonicus genome assembly reveals hitherto unknown genome features.

Schizosaccharomyces japonicus belongs to the single-genus class Schizosaccharomycetes, otherwise known as "fission yeasts." As part of a composite model system with its widely studied S. pombe sister species, S. japonicus has provided critical insights into the workings and the evolution of cell biological mechanisms. Furthermore, its divergent biology makes S. japonicus a valuable model organism in its own right. However, the currently available genome assembly contains gaps and has been unable to resolve centromeres and other repeat-rich chromosomal regions. Here we present a telomere-to-telomere long-read genome assembly of the S. japonicus genome. This includes the three megabase-length chromosomes, with centromeres hundreds of kilobases long, rich in 5S ribosomal RNA genes, transfer RNA genes, long terminal repeats, and short repeats. We identify a gene-sparse region on chromosome 2 that resembles a 331 kb centromeric duplication. We revise the genome size of S. japonicus to at least 16.6 Mb and possibly up to 18.12 Mb, at least 30% larger than previous estimates. Our whole genome assembly will support the growing S. japonicus research community and facilitate research in new directions, including centromere and DNA repeat evolution, and yeast comparative genomics.

Klotho Null Mutation Involvement in Adenosine A2B Receptor-Related Skeletal Muscle Degeneration.

Klotho is known for its age-suppressing function and has been implicated in sarcopenia pathology. It has recently been proposed that the adenosine A2B receptor plays a crucial role in skeletal muscle energy expenditure. However, the association between Klotho and A2B remains elusive. In this study, Klotho knockout mice, aged 10 weeks, and wild-type mice, aged 10 and 64 weeks, were used for comparison in indicators of sarcopenia (n = 6 for each group). PCR was performed to confirm the mice genotypes. Skeletal muscle sections were analyzed using hematoxylin and eosin staining as well as immunohistochemistry staining. The skeletal muscle cross-sectional area was significantly reduced in Klotho knockout mice and wild-type mice, aged 64 weeks, when compared with wild-type mice, aged 10 weeks, with a decreased percentage of type IIa and IIb myofibers. Likely impaired regenerative capacity, as reflected by the reduction of paired box 7 (Pax7)- and myogenic differentiation protein 1 (MyoD)-positive cells, was also observed in Klotho knockout mice and aged wild-type mice. 8-Hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine expression was enhanced with Klotho knockout and aging, indicating higher oxidative stress. Adenosine A2B signaling was impaired, with a lower expression of the A2B receptor and the cAMP-response element binding protein in Klotho knockout and aged mice. The present study provides the novel finding that sarcopenia involves adenosine signaling under the influence of Klotho knockout.

Five-Year Clinical Trial of the Low-Concentration Atropine for Myopia Progression (LAMP) Study: Phase 4 Report.

PURPOSE: To evaluate (1) the long-term efficacy of low-concentration atropine over 5 years, (2) the proportion of children requiring re-treatment and associated factors, and (3) the efficacy of pro re nata (PRN) re-treatment using 0.05% atropine from years 3 to 5. DESIGN: Randomized, double-masked extended trial. PARTICIPANTS: Children 4 to 12 years of age originally from the Low-Concentration Atropine for Myopia Progression (LAMP) study. METHODS: Children 4 to 12 years of age originally from the LAMP study were followed up for 5 years. During the third year, children in each group originally receiving 0.05%, 0.025%, and 0.01% atropine were randomized to continued treatment and treatment cessation. During years 4 and 5, all continued treatment subgroups were switched to 0.05% atropine for continued treatment, whereas all treatment cessation subgroups followed a PRN re-treatment protocol to resume 0.05% atropine for children with myopic progressions of 0.5 diopter (D) or more over 1 year. Generalized estimating equations were used to compare the changes in spherical equivalent (SE) progression and axial length (AL) elongation among groups. MAIN OUTCOMES MEASURES: (1) Changes in SE and AL in different groups over 5 years, (2) the proportion of children who needed re-treatment, and (3) changes in SE and AL in the continued treatment and PRN re-treatment groups from years 3 to 5. RESULTS: Two hundred seventy (82.8%) of 326 children (82.5%) from the third year completed 5 years of follow-up. Over 5 years, the cumulative mean SE progressions were -1.34 ± 1.40 D, -1.97 ± 1.03 D, and -2.34 ± 1.71 D for the continued treatment groups with initial 0.05%, 0.025%, and 0.01% atropine, respectively (P = 0.02). Similar trends were observed in AL elongation (P = 0.01). Among the PRN re-treatment group, 87.9% of children (94/107) needed re-treatment. The proportion of re-treatment across all studied concentrations was similar (P = 0.76). The SE progressions for continued treatment and PRN re-treatment groups from years 3 to 5 were -0.97 ± 0.82 D and -1.00 ± 0.74 D (P = 0.55) and the AL elongations were 0.51 ± 0.34 mm and 0.49 ± 0.32 mm (P = 0.84), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Over 5 years, the continued 0.05% atropine treatment demonstrated good efficacy for myopia control. Most children needed to restart treatment after atropine cessation at year 3. Restarted treatment with 0.05% atropine achieved similar efficacy as continued treatment. Children should be considered for re-treatment if myopia progresses after treatment cessation. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE(S): The author(s) have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article.

Adipocyte pyroptosis occurs in omental tumor microenvironment and is associated with chemoresistance of ovarian cancer.

BACKGROUND: Ovarian carcinoma (OC) is a fatal malignancy, with most patients experiencing recurrence and resistance to chemotherapy. In contrast to hematogenous metastasizing tumors, ovarian cancer cells disseminate within the peritoneal cavity, especially the omentum. Previously, we reported omental crown-like structure (CLS) number is associated with poor prognosis of advanced-stage OC. CLS that have pathologic features of a dead or dying adipocyte was surrounded by several macrophages is well known a histologic hallmark for inflammatory adipose tissue. In this study, we attempted to clarify the interaction between metastatic ovarian cancer cells and omental CLS, and to formulate a therapeutic strategy for advanced-stage ovarian cancer. METHODS: A three-cell (including OC cells, adipocytes and macrophages) coculture model was established to mimic the omental tumor microenvironment (TME) of ovarian cancer. Caspase-1 activity, ATP and free fatty acids (FFA) levels were detected by commercial kits. An adipocyte organoid model was established to assess macrophages migration and infiltration. In vitro and in vivo experiments were performed for functional assays and therapeutic effect evaluations. Clinical OC tissue samples were collected for immunochemistry stain and statistics analysis. RESULTS: In three-cell coculture model, OC cells-derived IL-6 and IL-8 could induce the occurrence of pyroptosis in omental adipocytes. The pyroptotic adipocytes release ATP to increase macrophage infiltration, release FFA into TME, uptake by OC cells to increase chemoresistance. From OC tumor samples study, we demonstrated patients with high gasdermin D (GSDMD) expression in omental adipocytes is highly correlated with chemoresistance and poor outcome in advanced-stage OC. In animal model, by pyroptosis inhibitor, DSF, effectively retarded tumor growth and prolonged mice survival. CONCLUSIONS: Omental adipocyte pyroptosis may contribute the chemoresistance in advanced stage OC. Omental adipocytes could release FFA and ATP through the GSDMD-mediate pyroptosis to induce chemoresistance and macrophages infiltration resulting the poor prognosis in advanced-stage OC. Inhibition of adipocyte pyroptosis may be a potential therapeutic modality in advanced-stage OC with omentum metastasis.

Developmental characteristics and accuracy of autism screening among two-year-old toddlers in the ECHO program.

BACKGROUND: The Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M-CHAT) is a common pediatric screening tool with mixed accuracy findings. Prior evidence supports M-CHAT screening for developmental concerns, especially in toddlers born preterm. This study examined M-CHAT accuracy in a large, nationwide sample. METHODS: 3393 participants from the Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) program were included. Harmonized M-CHAT (M-CHAT-H) results were compared with parent-reported autism diagnosis and autism-related characteristics to assess accuracy for term and preterm children, together and separately. Generalized estimating equations, clustering for ECHO cohort and controlling for demographic covariates, were used to examine associations between developmental and behavioral characteristics with M-CHAT-H accuracy. RESULTS: Sensitivity of the M-CHAT-H ranged from 36 to 60%; specificity ranged from 88 to 99%. Positive M-CHAT-H was associated with more developmental delays and behavior problems. Children with severe motor delays and more autism-related problems were more likely to have a false-negative M-CHAT-H. Children with fewer behavior problems and fewer autism-related concerns were more likely to have a false-positive screen. CONCLUSION: The M-CHAT-H accurately detects children at low risk for autism and children at increased risk with moderate accuracy. These findings support use of the M-CHAT-H in assessing autism risk and developmental and behavioral concerns in children. IMPACT: Previous literature regarding accuracy of the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M-CHAT) is mixed but this study provides evidence that the M-CHAT performs well in detecting children at low risk for autism and consistently detects children with developmental delays and behavioral problems. The M-CHAT moderately detects children at increased risk for autism and remains a useful screening tool. This study examines M-CHAT accuracy in a large-scale, nationwide sample, examining associations between screening accuracy and developmental outcomes. These findings impact pediatric screening for autism, supporting continued use of the M-CHAT while further elucidating the factors associated with inaccurate screens.

A meta-analysis of the association between RBP4 rs3758539 genotype and metabolic syndrome factors.

AIM: To explore the link between the RBP4 rs3758539 genotype and metabolic syndrome risk factors and whether the impact of this genetic variation displays any potential race discrepancy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This meta-analysis followed the PRISMA guidelines and was registered with PROSPERO (registration no. CRD42023407999). PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, Airiti Library and CINAHL databases were used for the study search until October 2023. We evaluated the methodological quality using the Joanna Briggs Institute checklist and determined the correlation using a random-effects meta-analysis. RESULTS: The results indicated that individuals with the rs3758539 GA/AA genotype had a higher risk profile, including lower high-density lipoprotein levels [correlation: -0.045, 95% confidence interval (CI): -0.080 to -0.009, p = .015, I2 = 46.9%] and higher body mass index (correlation: 0.117, 95% CI: 0.036-0.197, p = .005, I2 = 82.0%), body fat (correlation: 0.098, 95% CI: 0.004-0.191, p = .041, I2 = 64.0%), and low-density lipoprotein levels (correlation: 0.074, 95% CI: 0.010-0.139, p = .024, I2 = 0%), of developing metabolic syndrome than those with the GG genotype. The subgroup analysis maintained a significantly positive correlation between the rs3758539 GA/AA genotype and body mass index (correlation: 0.163, 95% CI: 0.031-0.289, p = .016, I2 = 88.9%) but a negative correlation with high-density lipoprotein levels (correlation: -0.047, 95% CI: -0.087 to -0.006, p = .025, I2 = 65.7%) in the Asian group only. CONCLUSION: The current meta-analysis supports a significant link between the RBP4 rs3758539 GA/AA genotype and the metabolic syndrome.

From growth promotion to intestinal inflammation alleviation: Unraveling the potential role of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GCC-3 in juvenile grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella).

Lactobacillus rhamnosus is a probiotic, which not only promotes the growth of animals, but also has anti-inflammatory effects. However, the mechanism by which Lactobacillus rhamnosus regulates intestinal immunity is not well comprehended. Hence, the study aimed to research how Lactobacillus rhamnosus affects the intestinal immunity using juvenile grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) as a model. We selected 1800 juvenile grass carp for testing. They were divided into six treatments and fed with six gradients of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GCC-3 (0.0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5 g/kg) for 70 days. Enteritis was subsequently induced with dextroside sodium sulfate. Results indicated that dietary Lactobacillus rhamnosus GCC-3 addition improved growth performance. Meanwhile, appropriate levels of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GCC-3 alleviated excessive inflammatory response by down-regulating the expression of TLR4 and NOD receptors, up-regulating the expression of TOR, and then down-regulating the expression of NF-κB. Additionally, appropriate Lactobacillus rhamnosus GCC-3 improved intestinal immunity by reducing pyroptosis triggered by NLRP3 inflammasome and mediated by GSDME. Furthermore, 16 S rRNA sequencing showing appropriate levels of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GCC-3 increased Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium abundance and decreased Aeromonas abundance. These results suggest that Lactobacillus rhamnosus GCC-3 can alleviate intestinal inflammation through down-regulating NF-κB and up-regulating TOR signaling pathways, as well as by inhibiting pyroptosis.